The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) has opened applications for the seventh edition of the MEST Africa Challenge, a pan-African pitch competition designed to identify and support high-potential technology startups.
For 2025, the focus is firmly on fintech innovation, with the programme targeting startups developing impactful solutions in digital payments, financial inclusion, insurtech, and value chain financing.
Founded in Ghana in 2008 by serial entrepreneur Jorn Lyseggen, MEST has become a leading pan-African institution providing software and entrepreneurship training, seed funding, and incubation support for early-stage startups across the continent.
The MEST Africa Challenge 2025 marks the second consecutive year of a sector-specific approach, with US$50,000 in equity funding awarded to the winning startup. In addition to investment, selected businesses will benefit from a strong support network that includes mentorship from industry experts, marketing and branding services, access to co-working spaces, and essential business development tools and platforms.
The competition is open to fintech startups based in Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa, and Ghana. Its aim is to empower entrepreneurs addressing real-world financial challenges and promoting inclusive economic growth across Africa.
Through this initiative, MEST reinforces its commitment to nurturing Africa’s next generation of technology leaders while highlighting the transformative potential of fintech in emerging markets.
Applications are now open here.
Exciting to see MEST opening applications for the 2025 Africa Challenge, especially with a focus on fintech innovation. Startups exploring solutions like mobile payments and digital banking could really benefit. Also, thinking about how fintech could integrate with services like iptv hd shows the scope for creative tech applications.
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